Box



Sept. 21, 1937. s, PRATT 2,093,926

BOX

Filed A ril 8, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ii 5eey Z'Praii;

l' a M K Sept. 21, 1937. s. F. PRATT 2,093,926

BOX

Filed April 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT OFFICE BOX Seely F. Pratt, Le Roy, N. Y.,assignor to Union Steel Chest Corporation, Le Roy, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application April 8, 1936, Serial N0..73,36

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to metallic receptacles and more particularly to boxes orchests for general utility purposes and of the type commonly having a hinged cover and one or more inner trays, the primary object of the invention being to provide such a box or chest of a construction which will promote a gracefully pleasing appearance of soft rounded outlines suggestive of streamlining as compared with the harsh, abrupt angles of the usual square cornered and edged products, and will for this reason considerably enhance the sale value, and defeat sales resistance, in its-practical or commercial exploitation. A further and important object of the invention is the provision of a box of the above type having its joints or seams so arranged as to conceal the same as nearly as possible to external View, and present the appearance, at least in front view, of a jointless or seamless construction.

A still further object is the provision of a box having a body of the above type which is proof against permeation by water and other liquids, strong, durable and admits of the use of a lighter gauge metal and a lesser quantity thereoffor each box as compared to the requirements incident to abox of equivalent capacity with square edges and corners and having unsightly exposed seams.

'With the foregoing general objects in view, further and more specific objects of the invention, as well as the' resulting advantages thereof, will be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated in the course of the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the boxes of this invention, the cover being raised.

Figure 2 is a central vertical transverse sectional viewtaken therethrough.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail vertical sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a portion of the box, the cover being closed.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of a portion of the box, with the cover raised and in section.

Figure '7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a portion of the box along the line 'l--'! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the blank of the box body, showing the initially formed seamless base.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a slightly modified construction. 7

' Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view with the cover open, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary rear elevation, with the cover closed.

Referring now to these figures, and as seen particularly-by a comparison of Figures. 1, 2, and 8, the body of the present box includes a base portion from which the front, rear and side walls l5, I6, l1, and I8 rise. This base portion includes a rectangular bottom l9 and is stamped or drawn from the central portion of a blank as in Figure 8 so as to form around the bottom l9 seamless upwardly rounded shallow marginal portions 20 of a depth, however, to fully define externally rounded lower horizontal edges which, in the finished box, match the appearance of the stamped or drawn cover 2!. r

In the-blank, as shown in Figure 8, it will be noted the walls l5, I6, I1, and I8 are integral extensions of those portions of the-marginal upwardly rounded edges 20 of the base along the straight edges of the rectangular bottom l9, said marginal portions-2i! also presenting curved cornew 22 having free upstanding edges along horizontal lines. It will also be noted that the side walls H and H3 in the box blank are of less width than the space between the front and rear edges of the base portion, while the front and rear walls l5 and it are of substantially greater length than that of the base portion, being provided at their ends with extension wings 23 which, when the said walls are bent to upstand in vertical continuation of the straight edges of the base portion, are curved to form rounded upright edges 24 of the box body, and substantially overlap the upright edges of the side walls IT and I8 for the formation of interlocking seams 25.

The seams 25, one of which is shown in detail in the section, Figure 3, are formed upon the inner surface of the box body, leaving the outer surface flush and even except for slight vertical grooves, and since the side Wings 23 of the front and rear walls form the rounded upright edges 24, it is obvious even these grooves are offset from the said edges and show only at thesides of the box, the latter having the appearance in front view of a seamless construction throughout.

The wings 23 of the front and rear walls also are formed in the blank with inner lower edges 26 which are rounded as seen in Figure 8, and when the, walls are bent upwardly depend below the free corner edges 22 of the base portion in inwardly overlapping relation as plainly seen by a comparison of Figures 2 and 4. These edges 26 are subsequently bent, for instance, as seams 25 are formed, into inwardly offset relation, as seen in Figure 4, with edges 22 so that the outer surface will remain even and uniform and a sufficiently tight metal to metal contact will result whereby a colored lacquer or other coating applied to, the finished body will complete sealed joints, rendering the body water-tight.

Around its upper edge, the box body has an external rib 21 and portions of this rib extend along the upper edges of the walls, forming in In addition to the rib 21, the

ternal grooves. front and side walls |5, I1, and I8 have upstanding inwardly offset lips 28 which. guidejthe 'inwardly curled edge 29 of the cover into seating relation on the rib 21 when the cover is closed.

The rib 21 of the rear wall I6 is vertically slitted at spaced points adjacent tothe opposite ends of the wall, and the material between these points is deflected inwardly at 30 to form spaces for the reception of offset tubular portions 3| of the rear edge of the cover 2|. These tubular portions3| receive hinge or pintle pins 32'whose end portions project into those portions of the internal groove of the rear wall on opposite sides of the said spaces. The rib 21 of the rear wall "3, as seen in Figure 1, is crimped at 33 adjacent to the ends of. the hinge or pintle pins 32 to avoid all danger of accidental displacement of the same in a lengthwise direction. To hold the hinged connections thus formed, the deflected portions 30 of the rear wall are bent upwardly and curved to partially embrace the tubular portions 3| of the cover. The pintle or hinge pins 32 may be ordinary finishing nails, though straight sections of heavy wire will serve.

For latching the cover 2| in closed position, it may have a transverse slot 34 centrally between its ends, at the front thereof, to receive the upper angular apertured end 35 of a latch member 36. This latch member consists of a single length of spring material riveted or otherwise anchored at its lower end as at 31 to the lower portion of the front wall l5 and upstanding along the inner surface of. said wall as most plainly seen in Figures 1 and 2. Intermediate its ends. this latch member or bar 36 has an integral stamped thimble 38 extending laterally and forwardly through an opening in the front wall |5 of the box body, preferably surrounded by a rolled edge 39, since the thimble 38 is, in use, pressed inwardly to shift the angular upper end of the latch bar 36 inwardly of the box body free of the cover slot 34.

As seen in Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, certain slight changes may be made, and among these may be mentioned continuation of the upstanding lip of the body around the front upright curved edges of the box body, as seen at 4|] in Figures 9 and 10, and the substitution of. a lock 4| securely fastened to the front wall to receive a keeper (not shown) carried by the cover, in a manner well known in the art, where a lock is desired rather than simply a latch.

Moreover, th'e'hinge-feature may be varied to the extent'of upstanding ears 42 in spaced pairs adjacent to opposite sides of the upper edge of the rear wall, each pair to receive between them an ear 43 of, they cover. These ears have aligned tubular portions 44 to receive hinge orpintle pins 45 and the outer ends of thefpins in this in,- stance extendinto the rolled edge 46 of the cover 41. The edge ,48 of the cover between itsabove reason of the curved or rounded corners and edges, both horizontal and vertical, and without apparent seams,

, What fisjclaimed isi Q1. Abox including a box body consisting of a base and upright side and end walls in a single piece, said base including a rectangular drawn bottom and upwardly rounded marginal portions having rounded upstanding free edges horizontally thereof atthe corners of the bottom, 'said wallsupstanding from the sides and ends of .said marginal portions and having vertically seamed adjoining side edges spaced from the corners, and certain of said walls having laterally rounded side extensions at the corners of the body provided with lower horizontally disposed edges inwardly offset and vertically overlapping the said free corner edges of the marginal portions.

2. A rectangular box body comprising a seamless drawn base including a bottom and upwardlydrawn marginal portions continuously therearound forming rounded-lower horizontal edges and corners, upstanding walls integral with the sides of said marginal portions and certain there- ,of having extensions forming rounded corners, andinterlocking seams connecting the vertical edges of said walls arranged interiorly of the box body and offset from the corners, said rounded corners-of the walls and the upstanding rounded corners of the base having vertically overlapping portions at the upper edge of the marginal portion of the base substantially vertically spaced above the bottom, one of said overlapping portions being ofiset within the box body to form a seam having an exteriorly flush surface.

3. A rectangular box body comprisng a seam less drawn base including a bottom and upwardly drawn marginal portions continuously therearound forming rounded lower horizontal edges and corners, upstanding walls integral with the sides of said marginal portions and certain thereof having extensions forming rounded corners, interlocking seams connecting the vertical I edges of said walls arranged interiorly of the box body and offset from the corners, said rounded corners of the walls and the upstanding rounded corners of the base having vertically overlapping portions at the upperedge of the marginal portion of the base substantially vertically spaced above the bottom, one of said overlapping portions being offset within the box body to form a seam having an exteriorly flush surface, and

an exterior coating on said body forming sealed projecting horizontal edges, certain of said walls continuous external surface, the side edges of said side extensions having internally seamed connection with the adjacent side edges of the adjoining walls along vertical lines laterally beyond the said vertically overlapping corner joints.

SEELY RPRATT. 

